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Alice Houghton said: "The fabric dome is unbelievably ugly and large and is a blot on the landscape and highly inappropriate for a conservation area."

At 11 metres, the club says, the dome will be a similar height to the "dismantled church" but "significantly further set back" from West Terrace behind a high laurel bush screen.

The application states: "Regular visits to this location by farmers with their grain for milling will today be replaced by children coming for all-year-round after school coaching lessons and for their families and members of the tennis playing community living typically within a 10-20 minutes’ drive.

"The impact on the villages cafes, pubs and restaurants at after school times (all year around) is likely to be significant.

"It will substantially enhance the recreational value with multiple health and well-being benefits for an estimated population of 50,000 in the catchment area."

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But one resident, who has lived in the area for 40 years, added: "Living in a conservation area where I am not allowed to trim my trees without permission, and we are not allowed any traffic lights (to preserve the rural image) I find it difficult to believe the proposed building can be permitted."

Gordon and Shirley Hetherington added: "It is bigger than some aircraft hangers and we do not look forward to the view from our front windows over the rural setting of the River Leven, particularly when the leaves are off the trees."